The Chasing Hammer 2

Then....I discovered this Chasing Hammer the other day.
As usual I can't resist and paid RM30 for it.
Another addition to my tools collection :)

Brand new and shiny but the wooden handle is not as good as our handmade handle here- Chasing Hammer 1.

Side by side with Chasing Hammer 1.
Chasing Hammer 2 is tiny.
Big brother and little brother...hehe...

The Chasing Hammer

Another addition to my tools collection.
I think this is a Chasing Hammer or is it goldsmith hammer?
Doesn't matter as long as I can use it to hammer the wires and metals.

Hubby found this one fine day at a second hand shop.
A very rare find for us on this side of the world :) So kasian.
Anyway, one fine weekend we set out to work on it and gave it a new body and a little bit of shine.
Actually it was over several weekends and evenings.

It was all rusty and ugly when hubby brought it home.
The previous owner/s must have use it very productively.
Notice how worn out it is with all the kinks.

Found a piece of nice wood for the handle and we both set out to work on it, taking turns.
Tik tok! Tik Tok! Tok tok tok!.....

Tok tok tok! Me, rounding up the handle.
Hardwork involved and not that easy especially to get a well rounded handle.

Then hubby gave it a bit of shine and this is how it turned out.
Not that shiny but way better than when it was brought home.

After all the hard work, smooth and brand new although the flat face is not that flat.

This is the final product, all shiny and smooth.
Happy!

Beading Community - Borneo International Beads Conference 2013

Well, this is also an overdue post.
The Borneo International Bead Conference took place more than a month ago, from 11-13 October 2013.
I did not take part in the conference but had the chance to visit the bead bazaar set up by both local and overseas beads artisan. There were also hands-on workshop and demonstration organised but I missed that out too due to timing. Maybe next round.
Not many visitors were around when I was there - less than 10 person. Yeah, very quite.
Maybe not many people were aware of it or not maybe people are not interested in beads? Dunno!
Anyway, here are some photos of the interesting beads I managed to capture with my hp camera.

The venue - 1st Floor, Four Points by Sheraton Kuching

Beaded Shoes from Melaka. Very intricate and detail work.

 

Beaded Corsages

Paiwanese Beads from Taiwan, bold and colorful - beautiful.

The Paiwanese is an indigenous group from Taiwan.
Each patterns on the glass beads has different meaning and motifs.
Refer to the handwritten explanation below.

 

One of the local artisan, Ramsay Ong and his beadwork/jewelry.

Ramsay's Creation with local motifs

Ramsay's Creation - Pua Kumbu Beads.
Pua Kumbu is a traditional woven multicolored ceremonial cotton cloth used by the Iban tribe of Sarawak.

Ramsay's Creation.

They are from the Rungus tribe of Sabah.
Love their headgears and traditional clothing.

They are popular and got interviewed by the reporter here :)

This Bakelalan lady brought along some very rare items from the highland of Sarawak - Hill Salt and Beras Bijan (sesame rice, literally translated).

The rice is really tiny. I have never tried this rice before.
Very expensive!

These rings are by a Sri Lankan Jeweler.
I like his work of combining the two different metals - copper and silver.

These necklaces are made from recyclable material including bottle caps.

And here are other beads from our local Sarawak beaders. 

Paper Beads

Close up

Orang Ulu's Beadwork and design

 

Ah! I forgot to put watermark on the pictures.....nevermind.

Have a great week.

Crafty Community-Craft Promotion Malaysia 2013

This took place about two months ago.
As usual, I am slow with photo editing.
Some of the photo quality is not so good so bear with me.
These are pictures of the Malaysia Craft Promotion 2013, organised by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation from 30 Aug to 8 Sept.

There were about 70 craft entrepreneurs who took part and they came from all over Malaysia and showcased their products based on textile, metal, wood, clay and various other crafts.

Enjoy the photos and have a great weekend.

At the entrance.

 Some lovely hand roll ceramic beads.

This Lun Bawang clay beads. Just awesome and expensive.
The Lun Bawang is one of the indigenous people of Sarawak.
Most of them found on the northern part of Sarawak - Limbang and Lawas.

The Lun Bawang are famous beaders.

A silver smith at work.

Some of the ring he crafted.

Looks familiar? Looks like the Pandora charm bracelet ya.
They are not the real thing but you can find them all over the place.

Cute ducks crafted from shell.

Traditional fish traps made from bamboo, i think.

The Sape, a traditional Orang Ulu guitar/ music instrument.

A giant wooden bench.

 Keringkam - A Malay weaving art, similar to embroidery.

 What is Keringkam?

Pua Kumbu, a traditional woven cotton cloth of the Iban ethnic group.
The motifs of the design are those of animals, plants or other daily activities.
That's all for now.